Florence | Art & History!

Itinerary What's Included Pricing Hotels Map Request

A City Break is perfect to add on to the beginning or end of your stay or cruise in Europe. Or combine two or more City Breaks and create a vacation of your own - the choice is yours!

Day 1 Arrival

Upon arrival in Florence make your way to your selected hotel for check-in. An optional transfer can be booked on request. Remainder of the day is free to start exploring this historic city.

Day 2 Florence City, Accademia & Uffizi Galleries

Today immerse yourself in the history and art of Florence, often referred to as the 'Cradle of Renaissance'! Your full-day tour starts with a guided visit to the Accademia Gallery. Among other wonderful works of art, you will be able to admire the magnificent pieces by Michelangelo including his most famous work, the "David", and other important masterpieces such as ''I Prigioni'', ''San Matteo'' and the “Palestrina Pietà”. The young Michelangelo carved the "David" from a huge block of rough marble in three years, creating an imposing sculpture of absolute beauty, an icon of the Renaissance model. You then proceed with a Walking Tour which will include the outdoor guided visit of San Lorenzo Church and the Duomo Complex: San Giovanni Baptistery with its famous "Porta del Paradiso" bronze doors, the Cathedral with the magnificent Cupola by Brunelleschi and Giotto’s Bell Tower. The walk continues along lively Via Calzaiuoli in the heart of the city, where you can admire the imposing Orsanmichele Church, a masterpiece of Florentine gothic art decorated with shrines featuring statues of the patron saints of powerful medieval trade guilds. Next, you will reach the bustling Mercato della Paglia (Straw Market): don’t forget to rub the nose of the famous "porcellino" (pig) and toss a coin into the fountain to bring you good luck!  Going on, you can admire the romantic, picturesque Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence, with its renowned jewellery shops. Your lovely blast from the past will end in Piazza Signoria, one of the most beautiful squares in the world and formerly the political centre of the city. In this true “outdoor museum”, you’ll be amazed by the beautiful Fountain of Neptune with the marble statue by Ammannati and then, looking around, the sculptural masterpieces of the Loggia dei Lanzi, including Cellini’s Perseus and the Gianbologna’s Rape of the Sabines. Dominating all this is the majestic Palazzo Vecchio with its crenellated Arnolfo Tower, one of the most famous symbols of Florence that you will be able to admire in all its magnificence. Then it is time to relax and enjoy a 3-course lunch in a typical Tuscan restaurant in Florence's old town. In the afternoon, your tour continues with a guided visit to Uffizi Gallery, one of the most famous art galleries in the world. Here you can admire numerous works of art by Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raffaello, Giotto, Cimabue, Masaccio, and many others. Among the precious exhibition halls of the Gallery, the most renowned contains the refined works by Botticelli, including his absolute masterpieces: "Primavera" and "Birth of Venus". The latter painting, the icon of the museum, represents the birth of the goddess emerging from the sea and symbolizes the ideal of beauty as an expression of purity and spiritual quality, typical of Renaissance Neoplatonic aesthetics. Once the guided tour has ended, it is possible to stay in the museum. With a duration of about 4.5 hours plus time for lunch, today's guided tour will end at 5:00 pm. (B.L)

Day 3 Florence

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel and a full day to spend as you choose. Continue exploring Florence on your own, take part in a Tuscan Cooking lesson, or perhaps set out on an optional tour to discover Tuscany's charming historic town and wine country. (B)

Day 4 Florence

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then it is time to say goodbye to Florence. Or ask your Travel Agent about extending your stay with CIT Tours. (B)

Daily Departures

Please note: The excursion included in this City Break does not operate daily. The itinerary will be modified to suit.